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Thursday, December 8, 2016

Guys, this week has been kicking my butt! We've had volleyball four days in a row. I mean, it's a good thing - it means my girls are winning and are moving through playoffs to semi-finals - but I am exhausted and so behind on blogs. Oops.

My Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday this week...plus practice on Thursday. We've gone further this year than ever before!

At this time of year, I usually start planning my New Year's resolutions. This blog was the result of one of those resolutions; for those of you who don't know, learning to run was my resolution in 2009. It was the first resolution I ever truly kept.

It was such a roaring success that every year since, I've put a lot of time and consideration into my resolutions. Then, last year, I took a step back and simplified.

This year felt good. I've felt more consistent and stronger than ever. I think simplification really worked for me. So I'm sticking with it.

I'm not focused on a particular distance and I only have one race lined up (A1A), so for the first time in years I have a lot of freedom. I'm going to keep running and cross-training and getting stronger. I'm probably going to pick a marathon for 2018...Probably. We'll see how I feel!

Anyway, I think I've finally gotten to a point in my running and fitness where I don't feel I need a resolution to help narrow my focus or keep me motivated. There aren't any other areas of my life that need direction or a major overhaul, so this year, I'm over resolutions.

That said, I have some important goals; it's just that my focus has changed. I plan to stay aware and actively involved politically. I plan to keep up my monthly donations to SPLC, HRC, and the ACLU going. I plan to use my privilege to help others as we gear up for the big fight we have ahead of us for the next four years.

I'm putting my money and time where my mouth is. I hope you do the same.

But as far as running goes? Yeah, no resolutions this year...and it feels damn good.

Are you making running/fitness resolutions this year?Are you making other kinds of resolutions for 2017?ABK

Sunday, December 4, 2016

Monday: Four miles over the bridge. I had to stop to stretch twice; my calves and shins just felt really tight. Like...hard. You know when you've got lactic acid buildup? And then a muscle cramp and the muscle is literally cramped up into a hard little ball? Yeah. Like that. I have no idea what caused it but I was really unhappy with it, obviously.

Tuesday & Wednesday: Volleyball game and practice, respectively. The season is almost over and then I can get back to normal cross-training!

Thursday: Four mile bridge run. I wore KT tape, compression sleeves, my Kayanos instead of my Ravennas, and took a salt tab before this run. I still had some aches, but we slowed it down and my calves and shins felt moderately better.

Friday: Four mile bridge run. I was in my brand new Ravennas. I did take salt again and was still taped, although less drastically than Thursday, and my legs felt 90% better. No pauses to walk or stretch needed.

My purple Ravennas have 204 miles on them; they really shouldn't be done yet...but maybe that's the contributing factor here. Or maybe I've just been dehydrated and stiff from volleyball and walking around at work. Who knows?

Saturday: Rest. I made sure to foam roll my calves; I also had Matt massage my left one, which had a sensitive hot-spot. I re-taped that calf and wore a compression sleeve to bed.

Sunday: 11 miles - no calf pain! I was so relieved to have a pain-free run. We kept a steady pace, stopping at mile 5.25 (bathroom, Gu, water) and 7.7 (water). I shouldn't have had water the second time; I felt so full and sick for the rest of the run.

I had some calf sensitivity after my post-run nap, but none during the run!

I know on race day I won't be stopping like that (water stops are faster, for sure), and if we want to keep a solid pace and have a realistic idea of our finishing time, we need to stop pausing my watch on training runs. I think I'll plan to wean us off bathroom breaks over the next few long runs.

Total miles: 23.
This was a solid week despite my leg issues. I haven't figured out what's causing them yet, so I'm just going to continue as many treatments as I can until they're totally gone.

Friday, December 2, 2016

Today's Friday Five 2.0 topic should be called "things I do buy again over and over and over" because once I find something that works for me, I stick with it!

Shoes: You all know how I went through the hardest time finding new shoes once my first "buy them over and over" style changed too drastically for me to continue wearing them. My new repeats are the Brooks Ravenna 7. I just ordered my second pair and I can't wait to break them in! If the 8s change significantly I'm going to be really pissed.

I can't wait for these babies to be delivered this weekend!

Accessory: I probably own six or seven different running belts, but once I found the FlipBelt, I haven't look back. It's the only belt I ever wear now, and I wear it on 90% of my runs. Within two months of buying my first, I bought two more because...why not!

These are so comfortable and spacious. They never ride up. The water bottles that fit in them are comfortable. I don't know why I waited so long to try them!

Headphones: I haven't had to buy new headphones since getting my Jaybird Bluebuds X, but if they were to break and I needed new bluetooth headphones, these would be it. They fit so perfectly, have great battery life, stay in my ears, deliver great sound...I just love them!

I just learned these are discontinued which is so sad because they're the best!

I've had them for so long (since 2013) I can't even find the post I wrote when I first got them, but they're still in perfect condition. Matt even dropped his in the bottom of a lake once, and when he found them they still worked!

Socks: I have so many Pro Compression socks it's a little embarrassing. I won't run in anything other than my PC Runners or Marathon Elite socks, and I love the sleeves for recovery; I bought some Feetures on a whim once and hate them. I literally never wear them.

In my sock drawer, I have a special bucket of Pro Compression socks. I think maybe they need to take over the main drawer and the bucket can hold the socks I never wear.

Clothes: I think I own the Lioness skirt in almost every print it comes in! It's my favorite skirt. Those pockets! Those pleats! Those prints! I will buy it again...and again...and again.

Aren't they pretty?! I can't wait for the winter prints to be released.

Reviewing this, I think maybe I have a shopping problem! But I'm definitely brand-loyal once I find something that works for me, so it doesn't surprise me that I tend to hoard running stuff that I love. I mean, who doesn't?!What are some of your repeat purchases?ABK